Functional requirements
Please note that ICA-AtoM is no longer actively supported by Artefactual Systems.
Visit https://www.accesstomemory.org for information about AtoM, the currently supported version.
Main Page > System Requirements > Functional requirements
Functional requirements state what the system must be able to do. The requirements provide:
- Parameters for designing the system.
- Criteria for testing the system (used in initial release and future iterations and upgrades).
- Planning guidelines for developing the system (improve existing or add new functionality).
- Documentation for standards compliance (link requirements to relevant international or national descriptive standards)
- A framework for structuring user-end documentation (step-by-step procedures for how to do things in the system).
Functional requirements are organized hierarchically, with core requirements, broken down into sub- and sub-sub-requirements. around the core functions of repositories holding archival material. ICA-AtoM currently focuses on two functions, breaking these down into sub- and sub-sub-requirements:
- Establish intellectual and administrative control over archival materials
- Provide an interface that supports user interaction with the system (create, read, update, delete, search
Each functional requirement includes the following information:
Requirement number | FR-x.x.x (unique tracking number assigned to requirement) |
---|---|
Requirement name | Descriptive name assigned to requirement. |
Requirement specification | Brief description of requirement: system must do X. |
Sub-requirements | If the requirement is broken down into sub-requirements, provides links to these. |
Requirement quotation | Links to standards or other documents: why must the system be able to do X? |
Associated metadata requirements | Links to functional requirements: what data must the system capture in order to be able to do X? |
Associated quality requirements | Links to quality requirements: what design and interface features must the system have to do X well? |
Associated technical requirements | Links to technical requirements: what system architecture, hardware / software configurations, and programming rules must the system implement to do X? |
ICA-AtoM implementation | Brief description of how ICA-AtoM implements X. |
Known issues | Brief indication of known problems or limitations in the current version of ICA-AtoM that should be addressed in future releases. |
User Manual sections | Links to the User manual sections that provide step-by-step instructions for doing X. |
Establish intellectual and administrative control over archival materials
Requirement number | FR-1 |
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Requirement name | Establish intellectual and administrative control over archival materials |
Requirement specification | The system must:
|
Sub-requirements |
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Implement a system of control
Requirement number | FR-1.1 |
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Requirement name | Implement a system of control. |
Requirement specification | The system must: |
Sub-requirements |
---
Support multi-level description
Requirement number | FR-1.1.1 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Support multi-level description. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Accommodate different levels as the highest level of arrangement and description
Requirement number | FR-1.1.2 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Accommodate different levels as the highest level of arrangement and description. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Accommodate different systems for assigning reference codes
Requirement number | FR-1.1.3 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Accommodate different systems for assigning reference codes. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Implement descriptive standards
Requirement number | FR-1.2 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Implement descriptive standards. |
Requirement specification | The system must: |
Sub-requirements |
Support all ICA standards
Requirement number | FR-1.2.1 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Support all ICA standards. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Integrate with existing national or local standards
Requirement number | FR-1.2.2 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Integrate with existing national or local standards. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Accommodate different practices for the level of detail required
Requirement number | FR-1.2.3 |
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Requirement name | Accommodate different practices for the level of detail required. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Separate description of archival materials from description of creators and repositories
Requirement number | FR-1.2.4 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Separate description of archival materials from description of creators and repositories. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
Create and control description records
Requirement number | FR-1.3 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Create and control descriptions |
Requirement specification | The system must: |
Sub-requirements |
|
---
Accept contributions from multiple repositories
Requirement number | FR-1.3.1 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Accept contributions from multiple repositories. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Assign unique identifiers to descriptions
Requirement number | FR-1.3.2 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Assign unique identifiers to descriptions. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Accommodate descriptions of different status (draft, finalized, superseded / obsolete)
Requirement number | FR-1.3.3 |
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Requirement name | Accommodate descriptions of different status (draft, finalized, superseded / obsolete). |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Prevent unauthorized, creation, alteration or deletion of descriptions
Requirement number | FR-1.3.4 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Prevent unauthorized, creation, alteration or deletion of descriptions. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Track changes to descriptions over time
Requirement number | FR-1.3.5 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Track changes to descriptions over time. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Remove superseded or obsolete descriptions
Requirement number | FR-1.3.6 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Remove superseded or obsolete descriptions. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Describe archival materials
Requirement number | FR-1.4 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Describe archival materials. |
Requirement specification | The system must: |
Sub-requirements |
|
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Describe the intellectual and physical characteristics of archival materials in all media and record formats
Requirement number | FR-1.4.1 |
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Requirement name | Describe the intellectual and physical characteristics of archival materials in all media and record formats. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Describe the context of archival materials
Requirement number | FR-1.4.2 |
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Requirement name | Describe the context of archival materials. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
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Describe the conditions governing access and use of archival materials
Requirement number | FR-1.4.3 |
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Requirement name | Describe the conditions governing access and use of archival materials. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Ensure that information at the higher and lower levels of description is consistent
Requirement number | FR-1.4.4 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Ensure that information at the higher and lower levels of description is consistent. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
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Identify the location of material described
Requirement number | FR-1.4.5 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Identify the location of material described. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Requirement number | FR-1.4.6 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Indicate the existence of related materials. |
Requirement specification | The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
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Describe actors
Requirement number | FR-1.5 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Describe actors. |
Requirement specification | The system must: |
Sub-requirements |
|
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Establish authorized headings for actors (names)
Requirement number | FR-1.5.1 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Establish authorized headings for actors (names) |
Requirement specification |
The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
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Describe the characteristics and activities of actors
Requirement number | FR-1.5.2 |
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Requirement name | Describe the characteristics and activities of actors. |
Requirement specification |
The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
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Identify relationships between actors and track changes over time
Requirement number | FR-1.5.3 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Identify relationships between actors and track changes over time. |
Requirement specification |
The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Requirement number | FR-1.5.4 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Identify archival materials related to actors. |
Requirement specification |
The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
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Identify actors that are also custodians of archival materials
Requirement number | FR-1.5.5 |
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Requirement name | Identify actors that are also custodians of archival materials. |
Requirement specification |
The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Describe archival institutions
Requirement number | FR-1.6 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Describe archival institutions. |
Requirement specification | The system must: |
Sub-requirements |
---
Template
Requirement number | FR-1.6.1 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Describe the mandate and structure of archival institutions. |
Requirement specification |
The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
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Describe the holdings of archival institutions
Requirement number | FR-1.6.2 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Describe the holdings of archival institutions. |
Requirement specification |
The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
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Provide the contact information of archival institutions
Requirement number | FR-1.6.3 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Provide the contact information of archival institutions. |
Requirement specification |
The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
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Describe the services provided by archival instituions
Requirement number | FR-1.6.4 |
---|---|
Requirement name | Describe the services provided by archival instituions. |
Requirement specification |
The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |
---
Template
Requirement number | FR-x |
---|---|
Requirement name | |
Requirement specification |
The system must be able to: |
Requirement quotation | |
Associated metadata requirements | |
Associated quality requirements | |
Associated technical requirements | |
ICA-AtoM implementation | |
Known issues | |
User Manual sections |